*trigger warnings for abuse and death (human and animal) and mental health issues*

Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with a team of biologists working to reintroduce wild wolves into the Highlands. She and her sister Aggie have escaped Alaska, and Inti is hoping to heal her sister. The locals are not happy to have Inti and her team there, worried about the wolves eating their livestock, but despite this, Inti develops a connection with the town sheriff. When a local farmer is found dead, Inti knows the blame will fall on her wolves, but she just can't believe they could have committed the act. Covering up for them, Inti decides to investigate who might actually have killed the man.

This story was a lot different than I expected it to be. The most interesting part of the story to me was Inti's mirror touch synesthesia. That would make like very difficult to navigate. There was a lot going on in this book, yet it felt like a slog to get through it at times. I like a lot of stories with dual timelines, but in this case, I didn't like the jumps back to Inti's and Aggie's childhoods; it just detracted from the main story line in my opinion. Overall this book was just OK.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

What a wonderful book, one that was hard and trying at times, I’d call this one raw, emotional and umm one part too much in the far fetched for me but over all this was a 5 star for me

The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was phenomenal as she read passages, changing back and forth between male and female characters. Her lilting voice gave the book its own character and upped the story from 3 stars to 4.

First sentence: When I was eight, dad cut me open from my throat to my stomach. That’s quite a first sentence hook! It turns out that Inti Flynn has synesthesia or mirror-touch, meaning she can sense what living things can sense or feel, whether that be people, animals or even trees. Aggie and Inti are twins and have always lived together and relied on each other. A set of horrible and devastating events occurred and they now find themselves in the Highlands of Scotland set on reintroducing wolves to the area whilst facing hostile Scots who have herds of sheep. This is where McConaghy shines in bringing this story to life.

The story broadened as more characters were introduced along with various subplots, including a murder, which slowed down the story without adding substance. An opportunity did arise at a gathering of friends at Duncan’s house and I had my fingers crossed. It was enlightening; but only scratched the surface. Consequently, secondary characters were skin deep and the ending was anticlimactic. All the loose threads, however, were tucked away.

I enjoyed reading Once There Were Wolves and I’m planning on reading Migration by McConaghy. Its just that I would have preferred a more well thought out and layered story and less fluff.

Note: There are triggers of violence; physical, mental and emotional. I was OK with it as I did not think or feel these scenes were added for mere shock value.

I received an audio book download from NetGalley. This review of Once There Were Wolves is strictly my thoughts and opinion. Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity of reading Once There were Wolves.

Ever since the beautiful nature descriptions in Where the Crawdads Sing, I have not read a book that compares, until now! What a special book that will stay with you long after reading (or listening to in my case). Join these characters as they attempt to re-introduce a pack of wolves back to their natural environment and deal with the townspeople who oppose this decision. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Wow! This is my first experience with McConaghy's writing and I know it won't by my last! I absolutely loved listening to this audiobook - and I am very tempted to also get my hands on a physical copy because I loved it so much that one format is just not enough! First of all, this book seemed almost tailor-made for me - the narrator and main character, Into, is a wolf biologist working on re-integrating wolves to the Scottish highlands. She has a passion for nature and an odd condition that allows her to mirror the physical sensations of others. She also has an identical twin sister, Aggie - and they share a past of learning about the forest from their Canadian father and practically about human nature from their mother, a Sydney detective. It's an absolutely riveting read/listen - with all of the characters - and the wolves! - leaping off the page (airwaves). The performance is really terrific, too! I absolutely loved the narrator's voice and she handled the variety of accents well, too.

The plot's large twist didn't really surprise me, but I do think that some readers will be genuinely shocked. It all builds well from the tensions all the way through to the climax. I thought it was beautifully written and I can most definitely see why this is also an August Book of the Month Club pick, as this is definitely a top 2021 read for me!

Such a fantastic book with the perfect narrator! She did such a fabulous job with the voices. I really enjoyed the complexity of the story, from introducing the wolves back into Scotland to the backstory of the twins and what they endured to bring themselves so close together and into the wilds of the Scottish highlands. This book was beautiful, mysterious, and at times, heartbreaking. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction and the mysteries of nature

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I got an ARC on audio because I had a mild interest, but when I heard Katherine from Gilmore Guide to Books had started it and was enjoying it, I picked it up to try a few chapters. Cut to me- 40% in- and unable to put the book down!

Inti Flynn is a wolf biologist who has been tasks with reintroducing 14 grey wolves into the Scottish highlands. She arrives in Scotland with her twin sister Aggie, a woman who has been rendered mute after a traumatic event in her past. The wolves used to roam free in the area, but had been extinct for years, and they're bringing them back in an attempt to resettle the ecosystem. The townspeople are not in favor of this and many fear the wolves and the outsiders that brought them. Things get worse when an outspoken farmer is found brutally killed, and the signs are pointing to the wolves having done it.

The writing is what stood out to me in this one. I don't always like what I consider to be flowerly writing, but in this case, the prose drew me right in. It was not at all hard to follow and was a great blend of literary, cli-fi (climate change fiction), and suspense. I do think the middle was stronger than the end, but I still walked away very happy I had given this a chance.

Thanks to the Publisher and Net Gallery for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book- it’s actually a story within a story, within story. We have an environmental story of the benefits of repopulating wild areas with Wolves, we have a mentally damaged sister - we know that she once was brilliant, and we have a murder. All of the stories intertwine around the central character Inty and her attempt to repopulate the Scottish highlands with wolves.
The characters are richly and realistically drawn, Inty, her sister Aggie, Duncan, Red and the other various townsfolk that she encounters. Trigger warning there is a theme of violence running though the book- from the wolves hunting, to wife beating and abuse, that is described in realistic though not gruesome detail. I found that last few chapters difficult to read, but the pay off was satisfying with the exception of Aggie’s conclusion which I found unsettling. I dont believe Duncan would have allowed it.
Note: I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator was excellent, she had the right amount of Scottish lilt to lend atmosphere to the story.
Recommend.

After finishing this, I was truly speechless. The way that McConaghy writes is so lyrical and mesmerizing. I felt like I could smell and feel the forest as she was describing it in the story.

Initially, I was intrigued by the plot but didn't really expect how much I would get invested to the characters and storyline. This definitely will end up being one of my favorite books of the year.

Also, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job with the various accents.

Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for a free, advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Migrations was my favourite book in 2020 and Once There Were Wolves is my favourite book so far in 2021.
A story at times heart-breaking and hopeful, with twists that I didn’t predict! Lush and vivid writing about the importance of wolves to their environment with compelling cast of characters. Narrated by the talented Saskia Maarleveld brings the story to life. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

A story of love, if there ever was one. Love of nature, vivid and true. The love between sisters, family, and friends and a love and respect for animals.

Inti has a deep and abiding connection to many things, her sister Aggie, the wolves, and nature. This is partially due to Mirror-Touch Synesthesia, a condition that Inti suffers from, where she often feels sensations (such as pain) on her own body when viewing pain to others including animals. As a biologist, Inti re-introduces wolves to the Highlands in Scotland to help them and the surrounding area. She also hopes to help her sister, who has been unwell for quite some time.

Upon integrating the wolves, and becoming acclimated, tragedy strikes, and Inti works to figure out who is to blame.

Environmental fiction, wrapped into a suspense, rolled into a romance, “Once There Were Wolves” is a book about human nature, wolf packs, life lessons, and survival. While I liked this book and enjoyed the writing, I admittedly liked this author’s prior book Migrations, a bit more.. perhaps because I felt as though this book had a bit too much going on? I’m not quite sure. That said, the narration of this novel, done by Saskia Maarleveld, was brilliant and made the book that much better for me. There are other reviewers out there that liked this one a tad more than me thus I urge you to check out their reviews.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Saskia Maarleveld for the alc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

“There are languages without words and violence is one of them.”

I really enjoyed McConaghy’s Migrations, and I equally enjoyed Once There Were Wolves. The novel is beautifully written and keeps the reader engaged throughout. The Scottish Highlands set the perfect backdrop for this atmospheric thriller.

The who-done-it aspect of the mystery kept me on my toes, and I really enjoyed the story’s twists and turns. The information on the wolf pack was enlightening too.

Inti, our protagonist, is a strong, flawed woman I couldn’t help but connect to. Her neurological disorder that allows her to feel what others are feeling physically was fascinating and added real depth to her character. It also heightened the relationship she had with other characters and the wolves. I loved the connection between Inti and her sister, Aggie; it felt very real.

The audiobook narrator was very good. And I definitely recommend giving this one a try especially if you enjoyed the author’s first novel.

Once There Were Wolves introduced us to Inti Flynn - a headstrong, smart, caring and determined character whose work is to reintroduce wolves into the Scottish Highlands. Beautifully told, with wit and candor, there are moments of beauty and moments of deep loss. Her journey is not alone as she brings her twin sister with her to this new area. The wolves are the center of the story and provide great lessons for the humans among them. The townspeople are against the idea, and her stubborn belief in science does not allow her plan to be tempered. A fantastic story of love, loss, animal as a character, siblings and believing in a cause greater than yourself. Highly recommend!

I'm speechless. Once There Were Wolves truly snuck up on me and grabbed me in its jaws. This storyline was original and thought provoking. The author told a beautiful story about love, devotion, guilt and grief. In addition, Ms. McConaghy blended in vital information about our planet and the endangered animals and plants.

This book centers around a young Australian scientist, Inti Flynn. She is working on a project to re-introduce wolves to Scotland. The townspeople aren't happy with the release of the predators in their area and fear for their flocks of sheep. It appears as if they are on polar ends of the topic without any common ground. Caught between the two factions is local enforcement officer, Duncan MacTavish. Inti isn't alone in Scotland, she brought her twin sister, Aggie with her. Unfortunately, it seems that Aggie has suffered some type of trauma and has withdrawn into herself. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding what happened to Aggie. We are given bits and pieces as we journey through the book.

Once There Were Wolves is told in both the past and present. The sections we are given from the past give us knowledge about Inti and Aggie's interactions with their parents. In addition, the flashbacks to the past also help the reader understand what happened to Aggie that seems to have not only traumatized her, but Inti as well. It is important information which helps to explain why the women are the way they are.

Inti has a condition known as mirror touch synesthesia which means she feels whatever she sees happening to others. She has to work hard to tell her brain that things aren't really happening to her. Otherwise she can experience extreme pain.

This book is about more than the re-introduction of wolves to the Scottish highlands. It's a character study of multiple characters - - particularly Inti. There is a great deal of thought and focus on the danger of the wolves, but everyone forgets that the most dangerous predator is man.

I just didn't have a clue how much I would love this book. There was a great deal to contemplate and think about. It was a book with teeth and substance. The author is gifted and passionate and it shows in this book.

I listened to the audio version and it was stellar. The narrator was perfect and could execute the voices with finesse. I believe that sometimes when different accents or dialects are involved, it's easier to listen to the book as opposed to reading it. Listening to this one made it even more enjoyable for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy of this audiobook. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

A combination of literary fiction and murder mystery, Inti is the leader of a team to reintroduce wolves into the Scottish Highlands. The wolf is a natural predator that keeps the ecosystem in balance, and they died out in Scotland in the 18th century. Inti arrives with fourteen gray wolves, and her traumatized twin sister Aggie, who she hopes will heal in her new environment.

Inti has a condition called mirror touch synesthesia, where she literally feels the pain of others, and the reader is given all the grisly details of what that means. The details of her and her twin sister’s past emotional traumas slowly unfolds for the reader as the story alternates between past and present.

The twins’ father was a naturalist who taught them to respect and appreciate nature, while their mother was a detective who taught them that humans are the real predators they should fear. We see both of those themes played out in these pages.

I enjoyed the sections about the wolves. We discover what it is like to spend months tracking them through births and deaths, and the local resident’s distrust and fear of the wolves. But Inti’s work to gain the villager’s support is an uphill battle, especially after a brutal death they attribute to a wolf attack.

While I appreciated the focus on the environment, even if heavy-handed, I didn’t care as much for the subplots. I thought the story would have stood well enough on its own without the murder mystery or romance. The angst and backstory of the twins was depressing, and I didn’t buy the fact that nearly every single man in Inti’s and Aggie’s orbit was abusive – what are the chances? There were too many topics introduced when a focus on the environmental concerns and the wolves would have been enough. Although I understood what the author was attempting to highlight, I was more invested in the plight of the wolves than the humans.

So, for me, this was a very mixed bag. On the positive side, I spent quite a bit of time looking the subject up online, as there really is a movement to reintroduce the wolves into Scotland.

The author has produced a highly atmospheric tale with some important themes but there’s something about her style that just doesn’t resonate with me as much as it does with other readers. There are plenty of glowing reviews, so do check them out.

*Sensitive readers should be aware there are disturbing scenes of violence, both human and animal

• I received a digital audio copy of this book via NetGalley. The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, did an outstanding job.

This was the first book I've read by McConaghy and I was pleasantly surprised. Once There Were Wolves effortlessly weaves three separate timelines of our main character's life together to fully shape her current views of on life and how she will continue to develope. I know this book unfortunately won't be for everyone but the way it feels like the author has made a mystery read like a historical fiction book was intriguing to me. This book touches on family, love, mystery, nature, and humanity and I personally liked that complexity and layering. I'm also totally in love with the cover. It's so inviting and mysterious.

Thank You, Macmillan Audio book for given me this ARC to give an honest review.

Trigger warning , Gore, Violence & Sexual Assault mentioned.

This book was a whole roller coaster of emotions. I love the connection to nature and trying to be a decent person to take care of the planet earth.

Inti Flynn can be a bit of stubborn and I did have a love/hate relationship with with her character at the beginning but by the end of the book. Inti was clinging to my heart completely also her sister Aggie. They are both deserves all the happiness in this world. Their relationship was so cute and wholesome. I love how Aggie was always looking out for Inti when they were little and then seeing the parallels when they were older. What happened to Aggie was heartbreaking, I cry so much and I had to put the audiobook on paused to recover for that scene.

Since the middle of the book I had my suspicions about what happened to Stuart and I was right. And I’m shocked that I did get it, maybe it was a bit obvious to me but to other people, it might not be that case. Aggie was so afraid that the same thing could happen to her sister that she decided to take action in her hands. And I couldn’t be mad about it because of her tragic past but at the same time, I was torn between feeling bad and mad but I like that they figured out at the end.


I have always love wolves and thanks to this book I did a lot it learning about them. And I can appreciate a book that teaches you something.

Anyways, it a good book and I will be recommending to people.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* really wanted to like this book, and then the birth scene happened and ngl i loathe when ppl depict birth in that way and just breeze over everything, also this book felt hella long for the amount of pages it is

Thank you @macmillan.audio and netgalley for the audio arc!!

“Propulsive and spell-binding, Charlotte McConaghy's Once There Were Wolves is the unforgettable story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves—if she isn’t consumed by a wild that was once her refuge. A pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands.”


I enjoyed this, especially on audio! I appreciated the two storylines of the re-entry of the wolves into the Scottish Highlands and the mysterious/ troubling past of the main character Inti and her twin sister Aggie. However, my favorite part of my reading experience was the descriptive atmosphere of this novel and the vivid illustrations written by the author and read by the narrator. It provided such a great escape into the Scottish Highlands from reality! I would look forward to any moment I could listen, if even for a couple of minutes.
TW: There are a lot of serious topics implied but not explicitly depicted in this book including domestic violence, murder, and rape.

Beautiful, atmospheric, lyrical listen. The narrator transports the reader and brings the story to life through the slow twists of events. Much recommended!